A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

CHAPTER XLIII
SOME ASPECTS OF THE DECLINE
I. The Oppression of Diocletian
While Diocletian, that author of ill and deviser of His ruinous
misery, was ruining all things, he could not withhold his ^°^^'^^'
insults, not even against God. Partly by avarice and in xlflfan^'^r
»'»
part by timid counsels this man overturned the
'^'^«'^*
Roman '^«
empire. For he made a choice of three persons to share died, vii.
the government with him; and thus the empire was quar-
tered, armies were multiplied, and each of the four princes
strove to maintain a much more considerable military
force than any sole emperor had done in times past.
There
began to be fewer men who paid taxes than there wxre
who received wages ; accordingly the means of the husbandmen
were exhausted by enormous impositions; farms were
abandoned; cultivated grounds became woodland, and
Ancient
'^^°''''^' si? ff.
universal dismay prevailed. Furthermore the provinces Oppressive
were di\"ided into minute portions; and many governors
and a multitude of inferior ofl&cers lay heavy on each worid^^^oL
territory and almost on every city. There were many
stewards of different degrees and many deputies of the
governors. Very few civil cases came before them, but
there were condemnations daily, and forfeitures were
frequently inflicted. There were taxes on numberless
commodities, and those not only often repeated but perpetual,
and in exacting them intolerable wrongs.
Whatever was imposed for the maintenance of the soldiery
might have been endured; but through his insatiable
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